WBIW.com News - local

Couple Arrested On Charges Of Theft And Prostitution

(BLOOMINGTON) - An agreement between a 44-year-old man and a woman to have sex in exchange for $40 reportedly resulted in a robbery and two arrests late Monday night.

Laura Ruble, 23, of Bloomington, was arrested and preliminarily charged with prostitution and possession of marijuana.

Her boyfriend, Brandon Grant, 29, of Bloomington, was also arrested and preliminarily charged with robbery for the alleged theft of the 44-year-old man's money after he found out the encounter between Ruble and the man occurred.

Both are currently booked at the Monroe County Jail. No bond is available for Ruble, who was on probation previous to the incident. Grant's bond is set at $10,000 surety and $500 cash.

Bloomington police responded at about 11:15 p.m. Monday to an initial report of a theft at University Inn, 2601 N. Walnut St. Upon arrival, officers met with the complainant, the 44-year-old man, who told police he had earlier made an agreement via telephone to pay Ruble $40 in exchange for sex, Sgt. Joseph Crider said.

The man left his room at Motel 6 to meet Ruble in room No. 117 of the University Inn, he told police. He and Ruble then reportedly engaged in foreplay until Ruble became upset, and the encounter stopped.

Ruble told police at that point she became uninterested in having sex with the man and attempted to separate herself from him. She sent a text message to Grant, who later entered the room to find Ruble partially undressed with the man. Grant, who identified himself to police as Ruble's boyfriend, told officers he had been previously unaware of what was happening and became angry when he saw the man with his girlfriend.

After Grant entered the room, the victim told police, Grant searched the man's clothing for his wallet and reportedly retrieved the money.

The victim told police the manner in which Grant acted while taking his money made him feel threatened and intimidated, Crider said, which is why officers felt the alleged theft could warrant a preliminary charge of robbery for Grant.

Initially, Grant denied participation in the theft but later admitted to taking $40 from the man, Crider said. Grant later recanted the statement and told police the man gave him $26.

The victim told police the amount taken was between $60 and $70.

While inside the room, officers noticed cash -- about $370 -- sitting on a table. Ruble told police she believed only $26 of it belonged to the man and said she could provide pay stubs for the remaining amount to prove she lawfully earned the money from her place of employment. Because Ruble was preliminarily charged with prostitution, officers seized the entire sum as evidence.

Police also detected the smell of marijuana while in the room, Crider said, and when they asked about it, Ruble told them she had hidden marijuana inside a mattress. She then voluntarily removed it and gave it to the officers, who arrested her for possession of marijuana.

Crider said a probable cause affidavit was also called in for the 44-year-old man, although it was not available as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com